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Superior Sun
The friends and family of Loueen Castaneda will be hosting a benefit yard sale on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 at Loueens home which is located on Nunez Place in Superior. Loueen is battling a rare disease called Dystonia, which attacks the nervous system. The yard sale will start at 8 a.m. and is expected to go through the afternoon or until all items are sold. Mary Macias and Karen Murrieta are organizing the fundraiser, they are taking donations of items to sell as well as financial contributions for Loueen. To make a donation please contact Mary Macias at 520-827-1132 or Karen Murrieta at 520-827-0853.
Loueen’s symptoms of this disease have advanced quickly and she is in severe pain on a daily basis. Her doctors expect that she will need to move into a full service nursing home within the year. According to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, the disease disrupts the nervous systems ability to allow the brain and the muscles to communicate. The body’s ability to control muscle movements is very complicated and involves many areas in the brain. The area of the brain that is believed to be most affected by Dystonia is called the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia is a deep region of the brain that monitors the speed of movement and controls unwanted movements. The basal ganglia is responsible for sending signals to the muscles instructing them when to move and when to stop moving. For reasons we don’t yet understand, the basal ganglia’s instructions to the muscles become irregular and chaotic, resulting in the unwanted muscle movements and contractions.
Loueen asked that everyone know that the funds raised will go toward her medical bills and necessary care and that she greatly appreciates everyones support, prayers and contributions. Loueen was married to Richard Castaneda who passed away several years ago, they have two children together.
You can learn more about Dystonia at: http://dystonia-foundation.org/.
Mila Besich is a resident of Superior with two children. She volunteers for many local organizations. She is an experienced fundraiser and event planner for Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition. She covers some of the area town councils and schools.
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